CarVerify

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel car check

Is the Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel reliable? We analysed 1,767 real MOT tests across 137 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,767 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.6%
Typical Mileage
82,269mi
Annual Mileage
7,905mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
16yrs

The Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel.

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.5%
2013
76.1%
2012
78%
2011
76.7%
2010

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 19

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 17
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 13

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,486 mi/yr
Typical
7,905 mi/yr
Average
8,850 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,673 mi/yr

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 337 82.5% 54,486 76,477 99,787
2012 769 76.1% 56,880 81,503 110,007
2011 459 78.0% 56,136 82,573 109,040
2010 129 76.7% 59,371 87,171 118,663

How Long Does a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Last?

Based on 137 Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.1 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
16 years

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
82,269 mi
75th Percentile
108,838 mi
95th Percentile
150,785 mi
Max Recorded
219,889 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2013

82.5% MOT pass rate from 337 tests

Year to avoid
2012

76.1% MOT pass rate from 769 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.5% across 337 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel THIS CAR 78.6% 1,767 82,269 mi 16 yrs
Subaru Impreza 75.7% 915,729 83,083 mi 33 yrs
Subaru Forester 76.1% 456,470 85,220 mi 29 yrs
Subaru Legacy 72.5% 349,986 96,000 mi 35 yrs
Ford F350 80.5% 2,320 84,822 mi 33 yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel

Should you buy a used Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel?

The Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.6% across 1,767 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick with 19 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel owner drives around 7,905 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel models stay on UK roads for around 16 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel reliable?
Based on 1,767 MOT tests, the Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel has a 78.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel?
The most common failure point is brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick.
How many miles does a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel do per year?
The typical Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel does around 7,905 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel last?
Most Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel models stay on UK roads for around 16 years based on our analysis of 137 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Forester XC Boxer Diesel is 2013 with a 82.5% pass rate across 337 tests.